Pipe flange grinding machine



March 6, 1956 K. A. RICHEY 2,736,995

PIPE FLANGE GRINDING MACHINE Filed Sept, 28, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 6, 1956 RlcHEY 2,736,995

PIPE FLANGE GRINDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 28, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 7 I .Z'Z Z'&4.

! g g l g| I a Cit-Ii 5 United States P PIPE FLANGE GRINDING MACHINE Kenneth A. Ric hey, Long Beach, Calif. Application September 28, 1953, Serial No. 382,727 8 Claims. (c1. 51-241 This invention relates to a pipe flange grinding machine whereby the flange of a pipe "can be ground or surfaced in situ.

An object of my invention is to provide a novel pipe flange grinding machine which is portable and can be quickly and easily moved from place to place 'as desired. Furthermore, my machine is relatively light and compact and, therefore, can be placed on the pipe While the pipe is in position, for example, within an industrial plant, aboard ship, or the like.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel pipe flange grinding machine which will accurately grind or surface the flange of the pipe and which can be minutely adjusted so as to surface the flange to close tolerances.

A feature of my invention resides in the novel means of both rotating the grinding stone and also revolving that stone over the surface of the flange. Furthermore, the grinding stone can be adjusted horizontally so that it can be moved across the surface of the flange as might be required. I

Other objects, advantages and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawings, the subjoined detailed description and the appended claims.

In the drawing:

Figure l is a side elevation of my pipe flange grinding machine in position on the pipe.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a side elevation with parts broken away of the pedestal portion of the machine.

Figure 5 is a top plan view of the pedestal with parts broken away to show interior construction.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a fragmentary end view as viewed from the line 88 of Figure l and with parts broken away to show interior construction.

Figure 9 is a side elevation of the grinding stone mounting frame and the drive therefor.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 1 indicates a pipe having a flange 2 at one end thereof, and this flange is to be ground or surfaced so that it will accurately fit another member. My flange grinding machine 3 consists of a mounting plate 4 from which a plurality of studs 5 extend, these studs bearing against the inside of the pipe 1, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, and thereby fixedly supporting the mounting plate 4. The plate 4 also carries a number of leveling screws 6 which engage and level the bottom 7 of the pedestal 8. The pedestal 8 has a cap 9 on the top thereof and this cap is securely attached to or Welded to a ring gear 10. A base 11 is rotatably mounted on the gear on suitable bearings, such as the ball race 12. A plate 13 is fixedly secured to the top surface of the base 11 andthis plate carries the motor frame grinding stone 'S'UP' porting structure, as will be subsequently described. The base 11 includes a post 14 which depends therefrom and extends into the hollow pedestal 8; Suitable bearings -15 in the pedestal engage the post 14 so as to accurately journal the base 11 and iia'ble that base to rotate. worm 16 is journaled in the base 11 and meshes with the gear 10. The worm gear 16 is driven tram an electrical motor, as will be subsequently described.

A motor frame 17 is fixedly attached to the plate '13 by means of suitable bolts or the like, and an seer-near motor 18 is secured to this meter'rrar'ne. The-shaft 19 of the worm gear 16 enters the gear x20 er the motor 18 and thus the shaft 19 a-nd the worm'gear -16 are rotated, and since the'g'e'ar 10 is stationary the base 11 and the plate 13 thereon will be rotated.

The grinding stone '2-1 is mounted answere in the following manner: A shaft 22 is journeled in end plates 23 and 24. The plates 23 and 24 are mounted with vertical sliding movement in the name plates 25 and 26, respectively, and the frame plates in turn are attached to the plate 13. The plates '23 and 24 are both similarly pressed upwardly by springs 27 and are engaged at the top by set screws 28, thus permitting accurate vertical adjustment of the bearing plates to accurately adjust the shaft 22 and the grinding stone 21. The grinding stone 21 is shifted longitudinally along the shaft' 22 and, therefore, adjusted across the face of "the flange 2 by means of an adjusting screw 29 also journaled in the bearing plates 23-24, and a follower 30 is threaded onto the adjusting shaft 29 and "a finger "31 on the follower is journal'ed on one end of the stone 21, thus euabling the stone to be adjusted as the follower 39 is moved loiigitildihally along the shaft 29. The adjustihgshaft 29 is m'anually rotated to permit of the proper adjustment. The shaft 22 and the grinding stone 21 are rotated from the electric motor 32 which is mounted on the'fraine 17. A belt 33 extends from the motor 32 to a pulley 34 the idler shaft 35, and a belt 36 extends from a pulley 87 on the shaft 35 to a pulley 38 on the shaft 22, thus driving the shaft 22 and the grinding stone 21. A rotary brush 39 on the top of the frame 17 permits an electrical conduction to the motors 32 and 18.

In operation the plate 4 is first fixedly mounted in the pipe 1 by screwing the studs 5 outwardly, and the plate 4 is in as nearly a horizontal position as possible. The leveling screws 6 are now adjusted to level the bottom 7 of the pedestal 8. Any final adjustment necessary to press the grinding stone 21 against the flange 2 is made by means of the adjusting screws 28. The flange grinder is now in proper position with the grinding stone 21 engaging the flange 2. The motors 18 and 32 are both started and the motor 18 causes the frame 17, as well as the stone 21, to rotate over the face of the flange 2. The motor 32 rotates the stone 21 at the proper speed, thus causing the flange 2 to be ground or finished as desired by the workman.

The horizontal position of the stone 21 can be adjusted over the face of the flange 2 by manually rotating the adjusting shaft 29 whichcauses the stone 21 to be moved longitudinally on the drive shaft 22. The stone 21 is splined or keyed to the shaft 22 by the spline 22', thus permitting this movement of the stone on the shaft. Since the pedestal 8 is stationary, together with the gear 10 which is attachedthereto, the plate 13 and the frame 17 attached thereto will all rotate, since the worm gear 16 is driven by the motor 18 and engages the stationary gear 10.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A grinding machine for the flanges of pipe, comprising a plate, means on the plate engageable with a pipe to secure the plate in a pipe, a pedestal, adjustable means .stone in the frame, said grinding stone being engageable with a pipe flange, a first electric motor mounted on the supporting plate, drive means extending from the electric motor to the grinding stone, a second electric motor mounted on the housing, a gear on the pedestal, and drive means extending from the second electric motor to the gear on the pedestal to rotate the housing, the supporting plate and the grinding stone.

2. A grinding machine for the flanges of pipe as in claim 1, including vertically adjustable mounting means in the frame for said grinding stone whereby the grinding stone is vertically adjusted in said frame.

3. A grinding machine for the flanges of pipe, comprising a plate, means on the plate engaging a pipe to secure the plate in a pipe, a pedestal, leveling means extending from the plate to the pedestal and mounting the pedestal on the plate, a supporting plate mounted on the pedestal, a housing mounted on the supporting plate, a frame fixedly mounted on the supporting plate, a grinding stone rotatably mounted in said frame, said grinding stone being engageable with a pipe flange, a first electric motor mounted on the supporting plate, drive means extending from the electric motor to the grinding stone, at second electric motor mounted on the housing, a gear on the pedestal, and drive means extending from the second electric motor to the gear on the pedestal to rotate the housing and said grinding stone.

4. A grinding machine for the flanges of pipe as in claim 3, including adjusting means engaging the grinding stone to move said stone horizontally over the pipe flange.

5. A grinding machine for the flanges of pipe, comprising a plate, means on the plate engaging a pipe to secure the plate in a pipe, a pedestal, means mounting the pedestal on the plate, leveling means extending between the pedestal and the plate, a supporting plate mounted on the pedestal, a housing mounted on the supporting plate, a frame mounted on the supporting plate, a shaft journaled in the frame, a grinding stone mounted on the shaft, said grinding stone being engagegreases able with a pipe flange, a first electric motor mounted on the housing, drive means extending from the electric motor to said shaft, a second electric motor mounted on the housing, a gear on the pedestal, and drive means extending from the second electric motor to the gear on the pedestal to rotate the housing, the supporting plate and the grinding stone.

6. A grinding machine for the flanges of a pipe as in claim 5, including an adjusting screw mounted in said frame adjacent said shaft, means extending from the adjusting screw to the grinding stone to adjust said stone longitudinally on the shaft.

7. A grinding machine for the flanges of pipe, comprising a plate, means on the plate engaging a pipe to secure the plate in a pipe, a pedestal positioned above the plate, leveling screws extending from the plate and engaging the pedestal to level the pedestal, a supporting plate mounted on the pedestal, a housing secured to the supporting plate, a frame secured to the mounting plate, end plates mounted in the frame for vertical adjustment therein, a shaft journaled in the end plates, a grinding stone mounted on the shaft and engaging a pipe flange, a first electric motor mounted in the housing, drive means extending from the electric motor to said shaft to rotate the same, a second electric motor mounted on the housing, a gear on the pedestal, and drive means extending from the second electric motor to the gear on the pedestal to rotate the housing, the supporting plate and the grinding stone.

8. A grinding machine for the flanges of pipe as in claim 7, including an adjusting screw mounted in the end plates, said adjusting screw being manually rotatable, and means extending from the adjusting screw to the grinding stone to move the grinding stone lengthwise of said shaft on rotation of the adjusting screw.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,326,091 Porter Dec. 23, 1919 1,995,027 Glassford Mar. 19, 1935 2,016,574 Myers Oct. 8, 1935 2,364,506 Berezny Dec. 5, 1944 2,412,199 Blood Dec. 10, 1946 

